When floods swept large parts of Pakistan in 2010, an estimated 20 million people were affected. Besides the slow response, the absence of comprehensive Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and preparedness mechanisms in the country was a major contributing factor to the scale of the destruction.
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC, an umbrella organisation of 14 of the UK’s largest non-governmental organisations) launched a fundraising appeal on August 2, 2010 mobilising than GBP 70 million for relief and recovery work.
In order to review the extent to which member agencies succeeded in enhancing community resilience, the DEC commissioned a research study in June 2012 to review the nature, strengths and weaknesses of the national DRR system in Pakistan, the extent to which DEC member agencies contributed to DRR outcomes through their programme, advocacy and coordination work and the lessons and recommendations for increasing the effectiveness of DRR work in Pakistan. The study reviewed key government and agency documents, interviewed DEC member agency and partner staff and undertook focus group discussions with men, women and children in seven communities in southern Sindh district.